After the Interview

You’ve just had the greatest interview of your life and you really want this job… now what?  There are 2 ways to go about this, both include a follow-up email or hand written letter.

If you were sent on this interview by a Recruiter from an agency, the first thing you need to do is CALL YOUR RECRUITER.  Odds are, the Recruiter will soon speak to the person you just met, or will very soon.  Personally, I like to speak with the candidate first to get their feeling of how the interview went before I speak with my client.  In any case, call your Recruiter and let them know how it went.

Sometimes when you go on an interview set up for you by a Recruiter, the interviewer will give you their card.  That’s great to hang on to, but it’s still appropriate to find out from your Recruiter whether or not you should send a thank you email directly to them, or if it should go through the Recruiter.  Offer that courtesy to your Recruiter.  They are handling the deal and should be the main point of contact until you get hired.  Some won’t have an issue with you having direct contact, but leave that up to them. If you got this interview on your own, by all means, send that email or hand written note immediately.

Keep the note simple.  Graciously thank them for taking time out of their day to meet with you.  Maybe rehash a little of your conversation – goals, expectations, etc, confirming why you are the best person for the job, and offer your availability should they need anything further.  End the note with a salutation that is professional and courteous.  This person isn’t your best friend, family or love interest, so ending it with a, “Love,…”  or “See you soon”,  isn’t appropriate obviously.

Regardless of what type and level of position you’re interviewing for, this small gesture will go very far in their decision making process.

10 top INTERVIEW TIPS

1. Do some research on the business before the interview.

2. Practice interviewing before your interview and think about possible questions they may ask.

3. Greet the employer with a firm handshake.

4. Make frequent eye contact.

5. Smile, be polite, and try to relax.

6. Listen carefully to the questions asked.

7. Ask the interviewer to restate a question if you are confused.

8. Answer questions as directly as possible.

9. Be upbeat and make positive statements, even if they ask you about something that may bring up negative emotions.

10. Use examples of how your skills and abilities would fit the job.